Carton



S. LIGHTER Feb. 16, 1943.

CARTON I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1941 Feb. 16, 1943. s |GHTER' 2,311,403

CARTON Filed April 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

' of foldable blanksof relatively stiff sheet mate- Patented Feb. 16, 1943 cm'roN Stephen mater. Milwaukee, Wis. Application April 28, 1941, Serlal No. 390,735

3 claims. ((1229-41) The present invention relates -in general to improvements inthe art of packing various-commodities, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction of cartons formed rial such as cardboard.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsible carton which is simple and durable in construction, and which can be readily produced from a single blank and assembled to provide a rigid box.

Some of the more specific objects of my present invention may be enumerated as follows:

To provide an improved carton blankwhich may be produced from sheet material such as cardboard with minimum waste of stock, andwhich may also be quickly folded and assembled into rigid box formation.

To provide a new and simplified carton assemblage which is entirely devoid of objection- Fig. 3 is' a similarly enlarged front perspective view of the assembled box i Fig. 4 is aplan view of a modified form of improved blank having a carrying handle associated therewith; I i 4 Fig. 5 is a rear perspective viewof the modified blank partly assembled; and

Fig. 6 is a similar perspective view of the completeli enclosed box.

While the invention hasben embodied in boxes of particular shape formed of cardboard blanks, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement, which is applicable to boxes of variousshapes and sizes formed of sheet, material other thancardboard.

Referring to Figs.;1, 2 and 3, the improved a carton blank shown in Fig. 1, comprises a single or one-piece approximately rectangular sheet of able external tabs or other projections, and

wherein diverse commodities may be most effectively confined and protected.

To provide an improved box structure which may be formed of a single blank of cardboard or the like, which may also be scored so that it can be quickly and conveniently assembled or collapsed, and which is effectively locked in as-- assemblage having a practical carryinghandle formed integral with the same blank which forms the box enclosure. i To provide an improved'box assemblage formed of flat blanks adapted for compact stacking and which may be manufactured and sold at mod-.- erate cost. v

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description. 7 a

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present improvement, and of the mode of constructing blanks and of assembling cartons made in accordance with my invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views. .Fig. 1. is a plan view of one of the improved blanks scored and ready for folding; 2 is a somewhat enlarged rear perspective view of the blank partially folded and with the-inner front wall assembled;

cardboard or the like, having a'fiat rectangular panel orv bottom 25; rectangular front and rear outer sidewalls 26, 21 respectively, formed integral with and foldable upwardly relative to the longer edges of the bottom 25; a rear upper closure panel or cover 23 foldably associated with the swinging longer edge of the outer rear wall 21, and having foldable flaps 23 formed integral with its opposite ends; similar end walls formed integral with and foldable upwardly relative to the shorter edges of the bottom'25; innerrear wall sections 3|, 32 foldably connected to the rear edges of the end walls 30, and each having an end tongue 33 interlockable with the tongue on the other section; a top closure panel 34 formed integral with and foldable relative to the swinging edge of the front wall 23 and having opposite side flaps 35 of approximately the same height as that of the end 'walls 30 but,

of the endwalls 30 and being cooperable with the chamfered ends of the flaps 36 to lock the box in assembled condition.

The various bottom and top panels, walls, flaps and sections are all forined from a common sheet of stock, and are foldably interconnected along suitable score lines so as to permit the blank to be readily folded into box formation. The sections 3|, 32 are free from direct connection with the adjacent rear wall 23, and the flaps 23 are cut out of the inner or lower portions of these sections; so that the only waste entailed in forming the blanks from rectangular sheets of stock of proper dimensions, is the slight amount of stock removed in forming the tongues 33, the portions 36, and the chamfered ends of the flaps 35. The properly prepared blanks may obviously be stacked in fiat condition, one above the other, and these-blanks may obviously be produced with simple punches and dies.

When it becomes desirable to assemble a box or carton from one of the improved blanks of Fig. 1, it is preferable to locate the blank with the panel 26 nearest the operator. The end walls 36 may then be elevated relative to the bottom 25 so as to simultaneously raise the wall sections 3|, 32 to vertical position, after which the tongues 33 of these sections may be brought into interlocking engagement, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to maintain the end walls 33 and the inner wall sections 3|, 32 perpendicular to the bottom 25. The front wall 26 may then be folded upwardly, and the triangle sections 31, 33,39 may be folded inwardl relative to the wall 26 and to each other, as indicated in Fig. 2, and thereafter assembled, as illustrated in Fig. 3 with the fiaps 35 disposed adjacent the inner sides of the end walls 30 and the chamfered ends of these fiap's interlocking with the tongues 40. When the box has been thus partially assembled, material may be loaded therein upon the bottom 25 and will be effectively confined by the surrounding walls. After the box has been loaded the rear outer wall 21 may be swung to a positionperpendicular to the bottom 25, and this displacement of the rear wall will cause the rear cover section 28 to assume positions approximately as shown in Fig. 3 whereupon side fiaps 23 may be folded inwardly and caused to enter the box enclosure. when the narrower ends of the cover fiaps 29 are swung over the upper edges of the inner wall sections 3 I 32, the rear wall 21 will be drawn into intimate contact with thesections 3|, 32; and the wider cent fiap 35; and tongues 43 cut out of the lower front corner portions of the end walls 33 and being cooperablo with the chamfered edges of the fiaps to hold the box in assembled condition.

The modified blank may again be formed from a single sheet of stock, and the various panels, sections and flaps are foldably interconnected along suitable score lines so as to permit the blank to be readily folded into box formation. The sections ll, I2 and the handle sections l4, II are cut partially from the stock which forms the side flaps 3 in order to minimize waste of stock, and practically the only waste entailed in forming these blanks is the stock removed in forming the tongues I3, the triangular portions 36, and the chamfered ends of the flaps 35. The

handle sections l4, l5 are preferably formed with the grain of the stock extending longitudinally thereof in order to insure maximum tensile strength in the assembled handle. The blanks when properly constructed may obviously be stacked in fiat condition, one above the other, and the blanks may again be produced with simple punches and dies.

When it becomes desirable to assemble a box so as to simultaneously rais the wall sections i l, 82 to vertical position, after which the tongues i3 may be brought into interlocking. engagement as shown in Fig. 5, so as to maintain the end walls 36 and theinner wall sections i2 per pendicular to the bottom 25. Thefront wall 26 f may then be folded upwardly and the triangular sections 31, 33, 33 may be folded inwardly over portions of the flaps 23 are of such width that they will hit the bottom 25 and will reinforce the cover 23 when closed.

Refen'ing to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the improved modified carton blank shown in Fig. 4, comprises a one-piece approximately rectangular sheet of cardboard, having a fiat rectangular bottom 25; rectangular front and rear outer walls 26, 21 respectively, formed integral with and foldable upwardly relative to the longer edges of the bottom 25; a rear upper closure section or cover 28 foldably connected to the longer edge of the outer rear wall 21, and having inwardly foldable side fiaps 3; rectangular end-walls 30 formed integral with and foldable upwardly relative to the shorter edges of the bottom 25; inner rear wall sections Ii, l2 foldably connected to the rear edges of the end walls 30, and each having an end tongue l3 interlockable with the tongue on the other section; a pair of handle sections l4, l5 foldably connected to the rear edges of the end walls 30, and each having a slitted head l6 1nsertable through a slot H in the rear wall 21; a narrow top panel 34 formed integral with and foldable relative to the swingin edge of the front wall 26 and having opposite side flaps 35 of approximately the same height as the end walls provided with chamfered ends; triangularly foldable portions 36 interposed between the adjacent straight edges of the walls 21, 33 and fiaps 35, and each consisting of a triangle section 31 foldably connected to the wall 26, an-

other triangle section 33 foldably connected to the adjacent end wall 30,-and still another triangle section39 foldably connected to the adjathe cover section 23 and the flaps 3 may be" brought forwardly by swinging the rear wall 21 upwardly against the inner rear wall sections H, l2. When the cover is brought into final closing position, the shorter end edges of the flaps 3 will Jam against the adjacent inner wall sec tions ll, l2, thereby positioning the inner and. outer rear walls in snug coaction with each other.

The triangular sections 36 when finally folded will rest snugly against the front wall 26, and the tongues 33 and 46 will maintain the box firmly assembled. The handle sections l4, l5 may be brought together and interlocked at their slitted head portions II as illustrated in Fig. 6; and when the box is narrower short the slots I1 may be omitted and the handle sections l4, l5, may then be folded directly around the ends of the rear wall 21.

The triangular folded portions 36 each comprising three relatively foldable triangular sections 31, 33, 33, and which are held in overlapping folded condition by the coaction of the adjacent flaps 35 with the end wall tongues 46, are of special importance in the production of leakproof or rigid corners: and in boxes where such comers are necessary or extremely desirable, these folded portions 36 may be applied to all four comers of the box assemblage. In such cases, the inner side-walls ll, l2, 3|, 32 will be omittedand replaced by folding portions 36 which are reversed with respect to the front The end walls 36 portions 35 but also having three foldable triangular sections 31, 38, 39 hingedly connected to the bottom 25, side wall 21 and a lockingtfiap 35 respectively. It may also be desirable in some cases, especially when the handle sections l4, l are used, to provide means such as a tongue formed on the panel 34 and coacting with the cover 28 to lock the latter in closed position. The application of such a locking tongue is obvious to those skilled in the art and has been omitted for the sake of clearness.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that either of the improved blanks may be quickly and readily assembled into box formation, and that when properly assembled the box will be doubly reinforced along at least one of its longer walls, and will also be rigidly reinforced at the comers of the opposite wall. The steps of assembling follow in natural sequence and make it possible to assemble the successive blanks in quick succession, and after the box has been finally assembled it is devoid of undesirable tabs and other external projections, and thoroughly confines the commodity therein. By virtue of the fact that practically no waste results from the formation of the improved blanks, these may be manufactured and sold at moderate cost. The handle which is formed integral with the main blank, requires no added stock in its formation and is extremely strong and easily assembled. The invention has proven highly satisfactory in actual commercial use, and boxes embodying the improved construction have maximum storage capacity considering the limited over-all size of the blanks which are used in the formation thereof. The inner wall sections which are formed integral with the same edges of the end walls from which the handle sections project, tend to reinforce the side of the box with which the handle is associated, and the entire assemblage is extremely rigid and durable.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of forming able over the bottom and having end flaps insertible within the carton and cooperable with the top edges of said inner wall sections to draw the adjacent outer side wall snugly against the sec-.

tional inner wall, and the opposite side edge portions of said end walls having locking tongues near said bottom and being foldably connected with the adjacent ends of the other side wall by means of three-panel triangularly foldable sections, each of said igiangularly foldable sections having one panel foldably connected with the adjacent side edge of the adjacent end wall and a second panel foldably connected with the adjacent end edge of said other side wall and with said first mentioned panel while the third panel is foldably connected with said second panel whereby said sections are foldable into triple-ply triangular formation lying flat against said other side wall within the assembled carton, and another top .panel foldably connected with said other side wall and having opposite end flaps foldably connected therewith and with said third panels and adapted to interlock with said tongues.

2. A collapsible carton formed of a single blank having a bottom provided with opposite side walls and opposite end walls foldably connected with the bottom, the corresponding side edges of said end walls having inter-connectible inner side wall sections foldable inwardly therefrom and one of said side walls being foldable against said inner wall sections when connected and being provided with a main closure panel foldable over the bottom and having end flaps insertible within the carton and cooperable with the top edges of said inner wall sections to draw the adjacent outer side wall snugly against the sectional inner, wall, and the opposite side edge portions of said end walls having locking tongues near said bottom and being foldably connected with the adjacent ends of the other side wall by means of three-panel triangularly foldable sections, each of said triangularly foldable sections having one panel foldably connected with the adjacent side edge of the adjacent end wall and a second panel foldably connected with the adjacent end edge of said other side wall and with said first mentioned panel while the third panel is foldably connected with said second panel whereby said sections are foldable into triple-ply triangular formation lying fiat against said other side wall within the assembled carton, and another top panel foldably connected with said other side wall and having opposite end flaps foldably connected therewith and with said third panels and adapted to interlock with said tongues, said main closure panel being engageable with said other top panel and the end flaps of said main closure panel being engageable with said bottom closely adjacent to said tongues.

3. A collapsible carton formed of a single blank having'a bottom provided with opposite side walls and opposite end walls foldably connected with the bottom, the corresponding side edges of said end walls having inter-connectible inner side wall sections foldable inwardly therefrom and one. of said side walls being foldable against said inner wall sections when connected and being provided with a main closure panel foldable over the bottom and having end flaps insertible within the carton and cooperable with the top edges of said inner wall sections to draw the adjacent outer side wall snugly against the sectional inner wall, and the other side edge portions of said end walls having locking means near said bottom and being foldably connected with the adjacent ends of the other side wall by means of three-panel triangularly foldable sections, each of said triangularly foldable sections having one panel foldably connected with the adjacent side edge of the adjacent end wall and a second panel foldably connected with the adjacent end edge of said other side wall and with said vfirst mentioned panel 

